Working toward self-determination for the West Papuan people

Papuans behind bars- June update

July 15, 2015

At the end of June 2015, there were at least 45 political prisoners in Papua.

Information received from defence lawyers in Manokwari reported that three detainees who were arrested last month for their involvement in a peaceful demonstration were severely beaten in detention by police Mobile Brigade (Brigade Mobil, Brimob) officers. At least one of the three, KNPB member Alexander Nekenem, was tortured by Brimob officers who stubbed cigarettes out on him. Under instructions from the Head of the Manokwari Regional Police, AKP Tommy H. Pontororing, lawyers were denied access to their three clients following the escape of Narko Murib, a fourth detainee in the same case. Due to barriers to access, lawyers only found out about the torture and ill-treatment endured by the detainees several days after.

A second case involving arbitrary violence perpetrated by Brimob officers was that of the fatal shooting of Yoteni Agapa, a 19-year-old Papuan in Ugapuga village in Dogiyai Regency. Brimob officers shot Agapa when he started arguing with them regarding a confrontation that had occurred earlier in the day. This tendency for Brimob officers to respond in such a trigger-happy manner is not uncommon. Since the start of 2015, at least two people have died and seven have been injured as a result of excessive use of force and misuse of firearms by police in Papua. So far, there have been no independent investigations into these incidents and thus the perpetrators continue to enjoy total impunity.

Ongoing investigations by the National Human Rights Commission (Komisi Nasional Hak Asasi Manusia, Komnas HAM) into the ‘Bloody Paniai’ incident of December 2014 seem to have stalled, reportedly due to a lack of funding. Additionally, separate investigations conducted by the Ministry of Politics, Law and Security alongside the Papuan National Police, criticized by human rights observers as lacking credibility, seem to be complicating matters still further.

14 students were arrested in Abepura and Waena for fundraising in support of the Komnas HAM investigations into Bloody Paniai. This case echoes the Yahukimo arrests in March 2015, where more than a hundred people were arrested in relation to a week-long fundraising event for Cyclone Pam victims in Vanuatu. The arrests show that public rallies of any kind in Papua continue to be suppressed, even those for humanitarian purposes.

Jayapura, Jubi – Residents in three districts in Paniai, Papua, are facing a shortage of clean water, said Decky Nawipa, member of Commission IV of the Papua Legislative Council.

“After my visit to three districts – Ekadide, Agadide, and Bogobaida in Paniai, I found that residens need clean water, ” Nawipa told Jubi on last week.

He also said that several road construction projects have not been completed

“We hope that, before entering the meeting of budget changes, it should be reported first for example road of Enarotali, Paniai to Intan Jaya as well as lighting project to the people in Ekadide and Bokobaida districts, “he said.

He said, although there is Hydroelectric Power in Paniai, but the electricity could not reach the two districts due to the need of power supply.

There is also problem of infrastructure development such as the need of land transportation access from Intan Jaya to Pania in order to suppress the high price, said one of the members of DPRP, Thomas Sondegau.

“During this time, goods from Nabire can only be transported by small-bodied aircraft to Paniai. The cost of transportation is expensive and it will be cheaper by using land tranpotaton, “ he said at the time. (Arjuna Pademme)

“When I was a kid, I was in Paniai, which is now Deiyai district. This region was famous because Anggruk hospital was established by GKI Effata Angguruk mission,” Giyai said in Jayapura on last week.

He visited the hospital along with Yakuhimo Secretary of the Department of Health, Wiklif Balingga and member of Commission V Papua, Nathan Pahabol on last Tuesday.

“There have been no improvements If we see the past and today in the era of special autonomy. The road is still very poor and facilities built by the mission are not maintained by the government as well,” he added

According to him, the room and service facilities are severely damaged. “I have seen all. Inpatient rooms and one doctor housing projects built by Yahukimo health department are incomplete and inappropriate to use, “he said.

He then expressed his appreciation to head of hospital, Ruben and fellow medical staff who are still serving the society with its limitations.

“I have to thank my staff. Hospitals that pioneered by missionaries should be continued and paid attention by the Government of Indonesia, “he said.

He added that in 2014 the Provincial Health Department has issued a Governor Regulation No. 8 on the allocation of at least 15 percent of funds for health care.

If each regencyt does not budget at least 15 percent, certainly it will be difficult in distributing special autonomy fund for the needs of public health services, he said. (*)

Timika, Jubi – The Amungme Community leader in Mimika, Papua Andreas Anggaibak, insisted that local authorities do not have any right to manage the partnership funds of PT Freeport Indonesia aimed at empowering indigenous Amungme and Kamoro.

“Mimika regent Eltinus Omaleng planned to take over the management of one percent of funding partnership of PT Freeport. I reiterate, the fund will not be taken over by other parties, including the government of Mimika,” Anggaibak said in Timika on last week.

Former chairman of Mimika Legislative Council (DPRD) 2000-2004 period, said the partnership fund of PT Freeport which used to be called as one percent of funds is the right of society. The fund, he said, should fully managed by the community itself, not by the government.
“The fund is the result of the struggle of the community since 14 years ago. I reiterate that whoever does not have the right to take over percent of funds, “said Anggaibak.

He then questioned the intention of Mimika regency who want to take over the management of the partnership fund of PT Freeport which has been administered by the Community Development Institute Amungme and Kamoro (LPMAK).

According to him, Mimika regency already have a very large budget allocation which is Rp2.2 trillion in fiscal year 2015. he continued with a huge budget allocations, it should have been able to push the Mimika regency motion pace of development of society up to the villages.
“If a very large fund is managed well, it will certainly be able to improve the welfare of the people of Mimika,” said Anggaibak.

Ironically, even though Mimika has the largest budget allocation in Papua, until now people have not fully prosper.
“In fact the people can see the development because there is support from LPMAK programs,” he explained.

He further explained the struggle to obtain one percent of funds from the gross revenue of PT Freeport in the 1990s took times and sacrificing, even it had to go through the courts in the United States.
Among the people, especially the Amungme tribe, also split into two groups when talking about the fund. There was one group that wanted to receive funds amounting to 10 percent of the gross revenue of PT Freeport. Meanwhile, other group led by Andreas Anggaibak itself through Amungkal Foundation agreed to accept the allocation of one percent of the gross revenue of PT Freeport.
“I served as the first director of Amungkal foundation won one percent funding dispute through the courts in the United States. Since it was a court ruling, I reiterated one percent of funds can not be transferred. I do not want just because because of funding one percent of the Amungme people split up, “he said.

Since 1996, the institution that manages funds one percent of PT Freeport has been repositioned and restructured several times.

Initially it was called the Integrated Regional Development Timika (PWT2), then in 1999 called Irian Jaya Community Development Organization (LPM-Irja) and in October 2002 again changed its name becoming LPMAK.
“LPMAK continue its programs that have been initiated since PWT2 and LPM-Irja. LPMAK implement health, education and development of the people’s economy, as well as providing financial support for the traditional institutions. The development that we can see today, because of LPMAK programs, while the government is not visible, “Anggaibak stated with a critical tone. (*)

TEMPO.CO, Papua – An uncommon occurrence of hailstorm in Wano Barat, Lanny Jaya, Papua, which occurred from July 3 to July 5, 2015, was reported to kill 11 people from 11 villages. "They freeze to death as the temperature reaches minus two degrees Celsius," said Regional Secretary of Lanny Jaya Regency Christian Siholait, on Tuesday, July 14, 2015.

Christian also said that the blizzard has devastated plantations and farm animals. Even worse, he added that some people now suffer from diarrhea.

The Lanny Jaya Regency recently recorded three hailstorm events in three different areas, including Kuyawage and Baliem village. "In total, there are 26 villages in three districts that are cut off and in need of immediate aid," Christian said.

Christian added that he plans to send three teams to distribute food, medicine, and medical supplies to the three districts. "We will rent a plane […] because the three districts can only be reached by 10 days of walking. We need central government response on this matter," Christian said.

“All the technical agencies play a very important role,” Enembe said in Jayapura, Papua on last week.

In addition, he said the handling of the border area between countries also need to take into account the problems associated with the authority of the relevant agencies to manage it, whether it is the responsibility of the central government, provincial government or the regency/city.

“Coordination is essential in order to avoid overlapping. Papua is one of the 33 provinces in the territory of the Republic of Indonesia, which has a direct border with other countries both land and sea border, which is bordered by the State of Papua New Guinea, Australia and the Republic of Palau, “he said.

Other challenges such as border management, border management officials are becoming very complex issues including the geographical nature so that until now government services to the public could not be maximized.

“It is obviously an impact on social welfare and public services such as accessibility to transport services, communications, information, education, health, electricity, water and nine staples that are still very low,” said Enembe.

Meanwhile, head of the Border and Foreign Cooperation of Papua province, Suzana Wanggai said as many as seven National Postal Transboundary (PLBN) will be built by central government including one post in Skouw area.

“For Indonesia, there are seven PLBN in this year that must be built,” Suzana Wanggai said on Sunday (5/7 / 2015).

According to her, the border area is the authority of the Central and Provincial Government of Papua and they have committed to realize the border as part of Indonesia. (Alexander Loen/ Tina)